Gripping device



r {N70 M el 2 Sheets- Sheet l.

W. L. GROUT &; E. L. BOWER S.

GRI PPING DEVICE FOR LATHES.

No. 445,697. Patented Feb. 3, 1891,

5 hi" my MK MW No Modei.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

' W. L. GROUT -& E. L. BOWERS.

GRIPPING DEVICE POR-LATHES. N0.445,697. Patented Feb. 3, 1891.

mi'nu il'nrrno STATES PATENT rerun.

WILLIAM L. GROUT AND EDWARD L. BOYVERS, OF ORANGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

GRIPPING DEVICE. FOR LATHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,697, dated February3, 1891.

Application filed May 24,1890. Serial No. 353,019. (No model.) f

To all whom zit-may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM L. GROUT and EDWARD L. BOWERS, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of Orange, county of Franklin, andState of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Gripping Device,of which the following, taken in connection with the drawings herewithaccompanying, is the specification.

Our invention relates to a gripping device, so called, adapted for usein connection with a machine of the same or similar character shown anddescribed in our application for a patent filed of a corresponding date,

marked Case A, in which a rotating spindle carrying a chuck and a turreton a sliding carriage moves or operates on the same plane and in acentral line in the usual manner, and our improved gripping device isadapted to be held and operated by the turret and its operatingmechanism.

In accordance with our invention metal blanks, castings, forgings, orother pieces adapted to be turned, drilled, or otherwise operated uponare placed in a suitable receiving-magazine mounted upon a cross-slideoperating at right angles to the rotating spindle carrying the chuck andthe turret supporting our improved gripping device and between the same,and said magazine is "adapted at the proper time to be moved in positioncentral with the line of the chuck and gripping device by suitableoperating mechanism. The turret is then moved for- 5 ward by a movementof its supporting-carriage, causing our improved gripping device or partthereof to enter an opening in said magazine to engage with and retainin its grasp one of the objects located therein. The magazine is thenmoved laterally from its central position and the gripping device isthen moved forward to place the object retained thereby in the chuckwhen the latter is either rotating or stationary.

5 The object of our present invention is to provide a gripping devicefor the purpose as above set forth, for use in combination with a chuckhaving its receiving-opening arranged at one side of the center ofrotation of its rotating spindle, more especially adapted for rotatingobjects adapted to be cut away to a greater degree on one side of itscenter than the other or otherwise be operated upon off its center,which object we accomplish by providing a supporting shell or frame forattachment with the turret and a device provided with gripping-jawssupported by said shell or frame at one side of the center of rotationof the chuck-rotating spindle an equal or about an equal distance withthe chuck and in a manner to be revolved in order to rotate with thechuck when the object retained thereby is being placed in the chuck andwhile the jaws of the latter are closing upon said object. 5

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a sectional view of ourimproved gripping device through line 11 as of Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 a sideelevation; Fig. 3, a detail view of the jaw and supporting frame orspindle, and Fig. 4 a front end elevation of the device entire. Fig. 5represents a section of a machine, showing our improved gripping devicein position in a supporting-turret and its relative position with themagazine and chuck when in position for operation.

To explain in detail, A represents a supporting-shell adapted to beattached to or supported by the carrying and operating turret,(represented atE in Fig. 5,) by which the Sc spindle or frame B,supporting the jaws b b, and other parts forming the gripping device,are supported by means of a shank or stem B, projecting from saidspindle or frame B into a corresponding opening, forming a bearing forthe same in said shell or frame A, being secured therein in the instanceshown by means of a screw Z), in order to allow said shank or stem torevolve therein, although it is obvious a nut or similar means might gobe employed in lieu thereof, and said frame or spindle B is elasticallysupported longitudinallyin its relation to its supporting-shell A andthe turret E by means of a coiled spring D,located between said shell Aand a 5 flange or shoulder on the frame or spindle B, as shown, thelatter being limited in its movement to the shell A by means of ashoulder or other projection l) at one end of the stem 13 and a shoulderformed by the head of the screw rco b at the opposite end thereof,engaging with corresponding shoulders or projections in the shell A, andsaid frame or shank B and the parts supported thereby are located at oneside of the center of its supporting shank or stem B, as shown.

The gripping-jaws b b are seated in slight depressions in the frame orspindle B to pre vent their lateral displacement and are secured at oneend thereto, their opposite ends projecting beyond the latter asuflicient distance to properly engage or grasp the desired object,(located in the magazine represented at K,) and said jaws are cut awayslightly at a point between theirends in order to give the jaws acertain degree of elasticity to 'allowtheir outer engaging ends to yieldor spread apart upon engagement with an object, and hold the same withan elastic pressure, and also to allow for any slight irregularities,&c., in the surface of the object to be engaged.

0 represents a pushing device consisting of av spring-actuated rodlocated in a central longitudinal opening b in the frame or spindle V B,slightly projecting at one end, said frame or spindle in a positioncentral between the gripping-jaws b, and is retained in position bymeansof a pin c,extending through its diameter and projecting at each endinto a longitudinal slot 19 in the frame or spindle, as shown in Figs. 1and 2, of suthcient length toallow the rod 0 to have a slightlongitudinal movement, for the purpose, as will herenafter be set forth.

The operation and function of the several 1 artsforming our improveddevice, briefly stated, are as follows: The gripping device as a wholeis supported by the turret E, as described, which latter is supported onand carried by a sliding carriage E, operated through. the medium ofcams located ona pulley B driven by the driving-shaft B as more fullyset forth. in our said application, (Case A,) and said gripping deviceis adapted, through the medium of the operatingcarns, to be movedforward to grasp an object located: in the magazine K, and then with drawn-to allow said magazine (which is moun ted upon across-slide L,operated by levers m and m, as set forth in said Case A) to be movedlaterally from position in front of said gripping device, after whichthe latter is again. moved forward to place the object retainedtherebyinachuck, (represented at Gr,) as the jaws I) come in contact with saidchuck they are allowed to yield slightly, owing-to elastic pressurethereof accomplished by means of the spring D, and as the object isplaced in the chuck the gripping device is caused. to rotate with thechuck, the latter being operated by the rotating spindle F. Thereafterthe pushing-rod O, acted upon by its operating-spring, presses theobject firmly into the chuck until the jaws of the latter have closedsecurely upon said object, after which the turret is caused to recede,leaving the-object in the chuck'to be rotatedand receive a concentricmotion, for the purpose as hcreinbefore set forth. It is obvious,however, that the frame or spindle 13, if desired, may be supported inthe center of rotation of the chuck-rotating spindle for use incombination with a chuck having its. receiving opening located in thecenter of rotation of its operating-spindle without departing from thespirit of our invention.

Having thus set forth our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In combination with a turret and its operating mechanism, a grippingdevice consisting of a supporting-shell for attachment with said turret,and a frame or shank provided with gripping-jaws secured thereto andwith a stem extending within said supporting-shell, by which said frameor shank is supported, and a spring located between the adjacent ends ofsaid supporting-shell and the frame or shank in a manner whereby thelatter is elasticallysupported in its relation to the former,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a turret and its operating mechanism, a grippingdevice consisting of" a supporting-shell adapted for attachment withsaid turret, and a revolving spindle or frame provided with grippingjawssupported by said supporting-shell at one side of its center, in amannersubstandaily as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with a turret and its op erating mechanism, a grippingdevice consisting of a supporting-shell for attachment with said turret,a frame or shank provided with gripping-jaws secured thereto, aspringactuated rod or pushing device projecting its front end thereof,and a stem at its rear end projecting within said supporting-shell in a:manner to support said frame or shank and the several parts supportedthereby and allow the same to rotate, substantially as described, andfor thepurpose set forth.

4;. In combination with a turret, and iitsopcrating mechanism, agripping device con sisting of a supporting-shell for attachment withthe turret, a frame provided with gripping-jaws secured thereto,aspring-actuated rodorpushi ng device supported therein and. projectingits front endthereof,.provided with a projection-thereon whichextendsan-d operates within a slot in said frame to-limit the movementof said rod or pushing device, and a stem located on the rear end ofsaid frame extending within said supporting-shell to support the frame,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth;

5. The combination, in a turret-latl1e,.with a chucking; devicev havingits opening at one side of itscenter, and operating mechanism, ofagripping, devicesupported, by the turret, consisting of asupporting-shell and a frame providedwith jaws securedthereto, supportedby said shell at one side of its-center by means of a stem located onsaid frame and extending Within said supporting-shell, substantially asdescribed, and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, in a turret-lathe, with a rotating chucking devicehaving; its opening at one side of its center, and operating mechanism,of a gripping device supported by the turret, consisting of asupporting-shell and a frame provided with jaws secured thereto,supported by said shell at one side of its center by means of a stemlocated on said frame and extending Within said supportingshell in amanner to allow the frame and jaws secured thereto to rotate,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

I. The combination, in a turret-lathe, with a chucking device having itsopening at one position from the former, substantially as described, andfor the purpose set forth.

ILLIAM L. GROUT.

- EDYVARD L. BOXVERS.

Witnesses:

()HAs. F. DANE, JOSEPH M. CRANE.

